This program of short films showcases the queer sanctuaries we create and find in spaces, our memories, and in others. Centered around the joy and safety that allow for the most authentic version of ourselves to emerge, the films showcase the world-building, and life-affirming possibilities of queer relationality. Individually, these films each highlight the nature and journey towards queer sanctuaries. Together they enshrine the most sacred and healing aspects of being queer – finding ourselves.
Screening followed by Q&A with: Natalie Jasmine Harris (Ben in Bloom), Lina Abascal (Stud Country), Alexandra Kern (Stud Country), April Maxey, Writer / Director (Work), Elaine Whae, Actress (Work); and from Blue Square Heart: William Means (Director), Noam Klement (Editor), Olia Zimarova (Producer), Yulia Safonova (Producer), Jessica Lea Risco (Actor), and Kian Morr (Actor).
About The Films
I AM HOME
Directed By Kymon Greyhorse | 2021 | 3 min
A poetic memoir, a love letter that speaks of introspection and what it means to rediscover who you are and cherish where you come from.
Screenplay by Kymon Greyhorse | Produced by JoJo Threehairs | With Ernest Hill | Starring Tiara Folsom
Vollúpya
Directed By Éri Sarmet and Jocimar Dias Jr. | 2024 | 21 min
In a post-apocalyptic future, through a captivating montage crafted from archival footage, photographs, and audio testimonials, this short film presents a sensitive and unique perspective on queer life in 1990s Brazil.
Screenplay by Éri Sarmet, Jocimar Dias Jr. | Executive Produced by Hadija Chalupe, Éri Sarmet | Produced by Hadija Chalupe, Éri Sarmet | Starring Lorre Motta, Zélia Duncan. Interviewees: Adriano Esteves, Aloma Divina, Cláudia Netto, Kaio Luiz e Scheila Cechetti
Work
Directed By April Maxey | 2022 | 13 min
Unable to move on from a breakup, Gabriela impulsively drops into an old job, where she unexpectedly runs into a friend from her past.
Screenplay by April Maxey | Produced by Skylar Andrews | Starring Marisela Zumbado, Elaine Whae, Jay Dathorne, Unique Jenkins, Star Amerasu, Nava Mau, Darlisa Ali, Scott Bender, Kenzo Lee, Charlie S Jensen
Blue Square Heart
Directed By William Means | 2022 | 13 min
A drag queen is forced to reconsider his shockingly violent art when his estranged, conservative mother makes a surprise appearance at his show in an attempt to reconnect.
Screenplay by William Means | Produced by Olia Zimarovas, Yulia Safonova | With Abra Salazarte, William Means | Starring Sextia N'eight, Jessica Lea Risco, Benjamin Lee Widner, Kian Morr, Shaw Purnell, Gia Banks
Stud Country
Directed By Lina Abascal and Alexandra Kern | 2024 | 11 min
Stud Country seeks to honor queer cowboy culture by subverting stereotypes and reveling in a shared joy of line dancing. But with the forthcoming demolition of their most recent venue, Club Bahia, the future of Stud Country becomes nebulous.
Executive Produced by Lina Abascal | Produced by Lina Abascal, Alexandra Kern | Starring Anthony Ivancich, Abi Hamilton, Zach Solomon, Sean Monaghan, Bailey Salisbury, The Dancers of Stud Country
Ben In Bloom
Directed By Natalie Jasmine Harris | 2023 | 15 min
Ben, a non-binary and queer teenager from the contentious Bucks County, Pennsylvania school district, weaves a heartfelt tapestry of their past, reliving the moments and people that shaped them into a fearless LGBTQ+ advocate.
Executive Produced by Brendan Gaul, Brett Henenberg, Sara Scully | Produced by Odalis Lopez, Nic Cory, Samiyah Wardlaw, Daniel Brooks | Starring Ben Busick, Rose Lopresti-Busick, Marlene Pray
About The Directors
Kymon Greyhorse is an award-winning filmmaker currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His first film I AM HOME debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, leading to a collaboration with renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz for IKEA. He is a 2022 Sundance Indigenous alum recognized in HuffPost’s 2023 Culture Shifters list as “reimagining the future of cinema”. His work delves into and celebrates Native/Polynesian stories and legacies. His upcoming film TAMAI, follows Peter, a Tongan queer teen, as he confronts the unresolved emotions between him and his estranged father when they reunite after a decade apart.
Éri Sarmet is Brazilian trans non-binary writer, director and producer from Niterói, Brazil, based in São Paulo. They wrote, directed and produced the short films Latifúndio (2017), the award-winning A Wild Patience Has Taken Me Here (2021, Special Jury Award at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival), and Vollúpya (2024). Founder of Excesso Filmes, Sarmet also wrote and produced the short film If I'm Here It Is By Mystery, directed by Clari Ribeiro, which premiered at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam. They are currently developing their first feature as writer/director.
Jocimar Dias Jr. is a Brazilian queer filmmaker and researcher living in Rio de Janeiro. He works in the areas of directing, assistant directing, and research for audiovisual productions. Ph.D. in Film Studies (UFF), he wrote and directed the musical docudrama short film Essay About My Mother (2014) and the documentary/sci-fi short Vollúpya (2024, co-directed with Éri Sarmet). Dias Jr. is planning his first feature film, an essay documentary derived from his dissertation on Watson Macedo, a leading filmmaker of Brazilian carnival chanchadas and a closeted homosexual. Dias Jr. is also a member of the Ritornelo Audiovisual collective.
April Maxey is a filmmaker from San Antonio, Texas, based in Los Angeles by way of New York. Her work explores queer intimacy, belonging, and healing and she is most interested in working on stories which center underrepresented perspectives. April’s short film, Work, was made in AFI’s DWW+ program and it premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, going on to screen at other festivals such as Tribeca, Palm Springs Shortfest, and Outfest, where it won the Academy-qualifying Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding US Narrative Short. April is a current Sundance x Adobe Women to Watch Fellow, was also a Sundance Uprise Fellow, and an alumna of the prestigious Berlinale Talents Short Film Station. Her short films have collectively screened at over 75 festivals across 18 countries and won 10 awards internationally. April’s directing approach is informed by her years working as a cinematographer and editor.
William Means is a Los Angeles-based Director and Writer. He graduated from the American Film Institute Conservatory as a Directing Fellow in 2021. Prior to AFI, William directed two award-winning shorts, then set out from his native-state of Georgia for several years of international backpacking to engage with new perspectives and expand his storytelling palette. Along the way, he was featured in the HBO documentary series, SEX//ON, he interned with Sam Raimi's GHOST HOUSE PICTURES and Celine Rattray's MAVEN PICTURES, and he worked on major features in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Since AFI, William has worked alongside Cinematographer Lawrence Sher as well as Director Patty Jenkins. His most recent short, Blue Square Heart, qualified for the 2024 Oscars® after taking Top Prize at Atlanta’s Out On Film. He is currently in post-production on his first feature.
Alexandra Kern is a filmmaker whose work explores how we inform the next generation in our complex cultures. Growing up in New Orleans has taught her how crucial culture and art are in shaping future generations and how the family extends outside the home. She has produced commercial and independent acclaimed projects for artists such as Tyler the Creator, Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, and Kendrick Lamar. Her directorial debut, the short documentary Wild Magnolias, is currently on its festival circuit having screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals. The short was honored by a special screening at the New Orleans Jazz Museum where it was offered a permanent stay in their historical archive.
Lina Abascal is a culture journalist, bestselling author, and first-time filmmaker. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, WIRED, Billboard, VICE, Playboy, and more. She has consulted for brands including Spotify, Equinox, and Netflix for creative ad campaigns. Her first book, “Never Be Alone Again: How Bloghouse United the Internet and Dancefloor” was a national bestseller and nominated for awards by the American Musicology Society and The Association for Recorded Sound.
Natalie Jasmine Harris is a Black queer filmmaker passionate about telling coming-of-age stories. Her short film, Grace, premiered at The 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and her 2022 NYU thesis film, PURE, received The Director's Guild of America Student Film Award and was acquired to stream on HBOMax. Natalie has participated in artist programs with Film at Lincoln Center, GLAAD, SFFILM, Outfest, Sundance Institute, and more. Her work has been featured in publications including Teen Vogue, Baltimore Sun, and Huffington Post.